Here’s how your love life will go in 2018

OSCAR Cainer takes a close look at what 2018 has in store for love and relationships

ARIES (March 21 - April 20)

Although your sign is represented by a ram, you have skills which are more easily attributed to a shepherd looking after a flock. You can assess situations with speed and, when the celestial conditions change, you can react and move yourself and others to more conducive environments. As Uranus, the change-maker, leaves your sign in May, a shift occurs that will take you into vibrant, new pastures. You'll find yourself on rich soil, where it's easier to relax and enjoy the scenery, as well as the company you find yourself in.

The departure of Uranus frees you from a sense of being emotionally trapped. You've been on constant alert for surprises. Challenges have come out of the blue and you've been on guard - watching for unexpected changes of moods in other people, and unpredictable shifts which have made you feel vulnerable.

2018 brings a sense of ease. When you feel secure in your surroundings, you feel free to follow your heart. You've learnt a lot. You have much to offer.

This year, as you relax and enjoy a new emotional landscape, a more rewarding way of relating to others will affect your key relationships in a way that will most rewarding.

People who are under the Aries sign should gain a sense of ease this year. Illustration by John Tiedemann

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21)

Change is on the way for those under the star sign, Taurus. Illustration by John Tiedemann

As Uranus enters your sign in May, he awakens your potential, bringing the possibility for change in your relationships. Uranus is the great revolutionary, and will encourage you to appreciate the depths of your feelings and share them in a way that creates deeper and more honest relationships.

Jupiter, the planet of integrity and luck, spends much of the year in your opposite sign, so when it comes to love, your moves will need to be clear and morally justifiable. Whatever actions you take must "feel" right.

Your powers of charm and persuasion will be enhanced by Jupiter's presence, so you'll have the skills you need to negotiate psychological and emotional barriers - both your own and those of the people closest to you.

Your days of needing to compromise ideals in order to keep the peace will be in the past. And, as you become more fluent in speaking your truth, your relationships will naturally shift and become easier and more satisfying. As you grow into your ability to express your feelings with greater honesty, your heightened emotional status will attract people to you.

They'll recognise your talents and potential. You'll end the year with a revitalised, and possibly new, range of people who support you.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 22)

In 2018, an aspect of your communication skills will be encouraged and your usual formidable abilities will be enhanced. Rather than simply analysing situations with your acute mental powers, the cosmos will encourage you to use your intuition and feel your way forward as you make decisions. Your powerful analytical mental agility can work hand-in-hand with your heart.

As Jupiter moves towards your opposite sign, your insight will focus on your relationships, and this new dimension to your perceptive powers will influence the way you interact with others. Sensitivity and emotional receptivity are the keywords of your relationships this year.

Harnessing a new skill is fun, but it brings challenges too.

Part of what makes you unique is your ability to pick up new ideas quickly, and your ability to adapt to your surroundings is second to none. You can master the inevitable challenges that change brings, and enjoy much of the process.

Jupiter's path across the sky towards its celestial home will restore your faith in other people too. Try not to over-analyse or mistrust the positivity that comes your way.

If you keep open-minded and open-hearted, there's real reason to be optimistic about how your relationships develop this year.

Keep an open heart and mind Geminis.

CANCER (June 23 - July 23)

For the next three years, Saturn, the great cosmic teacher, will be travelling through your opposite sign; that's where astrologers look to find useful clues about your relationships. Although Saturn brings an air of authority and discipline, it brings much to be thankful for. Saturn will encourage you to define yourself, and your requirements, and give you the tools to express your needs to someone you care about. Sometimes you become so consumed by your emotions that it's difficult to understand what you really want from the key people in your life. Saturn will help you to commit, both to yourself and to someone else.

It brings a sense of stability and seriousness to your relationships this year.

Gregarious Jupiter provides a counterbalance and lightness, encouraging you to explore the adventurous side of your nature. And, in May, when Uranus changes signs, it brings perception to the way that you see others (and how they see you).

Throughout 2018 you'll be grounded rather than restricted. With new understanding and awareness of the value of all you have to offer, your relationships can deepen so you can relax and enjoy being your true self.

Zodiac star sign Cancer. artwork astrology symbol emblem /Astrology

LEO (July 24 - August 23)

Leos can expect energised relationships.

With Uranus moving into a new sign in May this year, it signifies a change in your public image. As your natural authority and inner strength comes to the fore, other people will see and appreciate you differently. This important cosmic event is ratified by the movement of dynamic Mars into your opposite sign.

For the first time in 18 months, the power planet will energise your relationships with passion and excitement, potentially creating some impressive fireworks. There will be glorious moments - but watch out for explosive incidents too, as tempers flare, and emotions are heightened. You might need access to the psychological equivalent of a fire extinguisher to dampen any dramas!

Throughout the year, optimistic, encouraging Jupiter will be heading towards its celestial home in Sagittarius. This is particularly significant for Leo's as it's the part of the sky that represents your romantic nature and your self-expression. Jupiter's movement brings the gifts of generosity and positivity, and encourages you to explore your inner, most private self. When you're big-hearted with yourself the world responds with lavish gestures, so if you can be your magnificent best in 2018, you won't just gain influence and respect, but admiration too. There's much to purr about this year.

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23)

Jupiter's path across the sky in 2018 brings optimism, energy and growth as it makes powerful links to planets in the relationship area of your chart.

The King of the Gods will encourage you to have faith in your hopes and dreams.

Of all the signs in the zodiac, you know what perfection is, and strive hard for it in your life. This year, with Saturn residing in your solar house of romance, if you can let go of your quest for the perfect alliance, you might just find your near-perfect match. Sensitive co-operation will develop either in a current liaison, or arrive in the gift of someone new.

The late, great Virgoan Leonard Cohen wrote: "Ring the bells that still can ring, forget your perfect offering, there is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in."

2018 brings opportunities for you to be more generous to the most important person in your life - that's you! If you can be gentler with yourself and embrace your flaws, light will enter in the form of self-respect and self-kindness.

As Uranus changes signs in May it encourages an open-minded outlook and a reminder that, although there's no such thing as a perfect relationship, you more than deserve a wonderful trusting supportive imperfect one.

Virgo zodiac button icon, isolated on white background.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23)

Those under the Libra sign should feel a greater sense of control in affairs of the heart.

In many classic Westerns, a gun-toting desperado torments the townsfolk by making them "dance" as he fires shots at the ground beneath their feet.

In some ways Uranus has been the "bandito" in your story for the last seven years. Not that he has deliberately set out to make your life a misery. But our hearts are never quite content when we're dancing to another's tune.

In 2018, you will have more say about who calls the shots.

As Uranus changes signs in May, it moves out of the part of the sky that represents your relationships, and some of the volatility you've been feeling will start to ease. That doesn't mean that you won't have your share of surprises and excitement! But it does suggest that, instead of feeling dictated to, you'll have a greater sense of control - especially in affairs of the heart.

As Jupiter heads towards his celestial home he helps you to expand your resources and explore your innate wealth. You have a natural abundance of charm, sophistication, elegance and style. As you finally get more choice about the direction you take, the dance you weave will inevitably become more beautiful and attractive to others too.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22)

2018 begins with your traditional ruler Mars combining with Jupiter in your sign for the first time since 1982, and continues with Jupiter creating encouraging alignments with your modern ruler Pluto throughout the year.

This represents a vast amount of power flowing your way. There's a sense that however ambitious your hopes may be, they're not too far-fetched.

When it comes to relationships, the cosmos has even more up its sleeve.

Jupiter's harmonious links with Neptune suggest that the romantic dreams you once dismissed as fantastical will be within reach as a new-found sense of optimism and adventure enables you to pursue your desires with freedom and hopefulness.

When Uranus, the change-maker, enters your opposite sign in May it revolutionises how you view your relationships. Of course, the very nature of revolution is challenging, so it's going to be quite a ride!

But part of what makes the adventure so exciting will be how unpredictable it is at times.

2018 has enough emotion, excitement and potential for romance to fill your heart several times over. As long as you pace yourself, and keep true to your principles, the changes that occur over the year will deepen your existing relationships and inspire dynamic new ones.

Scorpions should brace for a unpredictable year. Illustration by John Tiedemann

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21)

In 2018 your ruler Jupiter traverses the sky on his way home to your sign. For twelve long years he has been overseas visiting other territories and, although you've been receiving gifts from afar, and the equivalent of cosmic telegrams on important occasions, there's been a sense of someone or something missing.

Throughout 2018 you'll experience a tangible growing awareness of Jupiter's imminent return. Life will present opportunities which enable you to create the perfect environment for a homecoming celebration.

This brings exciting prospects for your relationships. You'll find that people are more willing than usual to co-operate with your ideas, and enthusiastic about offering their energy and resources so that you can take steps towards making your dreams a real part of your life.

As Uranus changes signs in May, it adds innovation to your creative talents and stirs your romantic side. Paradigm shifts take some getting used to, so you might want to take your time before making commitments that might need rethinking later in the year.

But, as Jupiter brings generosity, and allows you to express passion and joy, 2018 is a year when you'll find concrete evidence of just how lucky and loved you are.

Those under this star sign will be passionate this year.

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20)

Capricorns will have the charm required to stay out of trouble.

As a Capricorn, you are unique and much admired. In 2018, your ruler Saturn's presence in your sign will encourage you to be the very best that you can be.

Saturn is the great cosmic teacher. He has a reputation for being strict - because, if that's the best way to get good results, he can be exacting.

But, it's not just in the work environment that he recognises and rewards persistence and effort. It's an attitude that bodes well in your romantic life too. Your practical approach, your determination and your ability to intuitively know how to help people are the traits that will deepen and infuse your relationships this year.

Yet just in case you think things sound too serious, as the change-maker, Uranus moves into the part of sky associated with your creativity and romance in May, it awakens your playful side. You can experience a new and innovative approach to your relationships. And with Jupiter being encouraged by Pluto, you'll have the authority and the charm required, to stay out of trouble and in the teacher's good books!

Throughout 2018, as your natural qualities are appreciated, the more mischievous side of you can flourish. Can you think of a better way to win people over to your side than with laughter? Humour is your secret weapon … and you can use it to great effect this year.

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19)

The late great Bob Monkhouse once said: "When I said I was going to be a comedian, everybody laughed. Well, they're not laughing now."

Joking aside, visionaries are easy targets for criticism. Your innovative attitude to life often challenges people with more traditional mindsets, and makes you vulnerable to their lack of understanding. How many times have you felt that your ideas were too forward thinking to be taken seriously or that you were not being appreciated?

In 2018, you needn't feel that way any more. Jupiter's passage through the sky towards its celestial home sets a scene in which people will laugh with you, not at you.

It will help those close to you to appreciate your brilliant originality.

In May, as your ruler Uranus changes signs, rather than needing to protect your unique way of seeing the world, and continuing to keep your heart protected, you can expect to feel encouraged and supported.

In this changed environment, it's not only your ideas that will flourish, but your heart too. If you're bold enough to take risks, be adventurous and embrace the future, in 2018 someone special will embrace you.

Aquarians will be embraced in 2018.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20)

When Archimedes had his breakthrough, it's said that he was so thrilled that he leapt out of the bath and ran down the street in his birthday suit. Moments of inspiration can cause us to do and say outlandish things. And there is no greater motivator than love.

The path of your traditional ruler, Jupiter, through the sky this year opens your mind to new possibilities and different ways of looking at the world. Its harmonious links with Neptune (which is in your sign) will help you to be your best, most inspired self.

It's hard to over-estimate the significance of such a powerful relationship between your two ruling planets. Together they encourage you to think big, explore a more glamorous lifestyle and live out your dreams. But, rather than following idle pursuits, these need to be soulful endeavours.

As Uranus changes signs in May, it heralds a breakthrough in communication and a shift in your mindset. It's a moment to savour. What you learn will electrify your heart with an emotional "eureka".

You'll be able to understand what you need from someone, and what they desire from you. Your heart will realise that there's no going back. Not when progress feels this good.

Those under the sign of Pisces will have an emotional “eureka” moment”. Illustration by John Tiedemann